Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Winter Clothing for a Clyde

Hi, new to the board, looking for some advice on some winter clothing choices. I'm on the high end of Clydeness :) 46 inch waist, 54 inch chest and I am having a hard time finding some decent winter gear. Any other Clydes have similar issues ? Specifically I'm looking for something for the legs and some form of a jacket with vents. I've ordered a couple of jackets from Performance and Nashbar but I have had to return them because they don't fit around the waist. Earlier this year I tried the sweatshirt route but that doesn't work well for ventilation. Also anyone know of a HRM with a REALLY large wrist band ?

Shog

My waist is bigger than yours, and the 3XL UnderArmor heat gear leggings fit me just fine. Granted, the boys and the bishop don't have a lot of "wiggle room" but that's pretty much to be expected. So far I've only had one 10 mile ride in the cold morning but WOW they are warm. Very happy, even blazing into a headwind above 22mph.

Learn about layers. I got big on that last winter when I was doing a lot of hiking, and am glad I did. I'll be expirementing with it tonight on a ride AND a hike.

I have 3XL UA Cold Gear tights and top. Not sexy, but they work. I also use performance 3xl jerseys. Also JC Penny's in there big and tall section had wind breaker type jackets on sale for $22. haven't riden in it yet, but it should work.

Have to replace my 3xl century bib due to a crash. Sad, sad day. I miss my bib.

I can't tell you about specifics in clothing...as I live in Florida and winter clothing is a sweatshirt over your jersey on the coldest day of the year. But.....

The BEST place for cycling wear for us "biguns" is www.aerotechdesigns.com. They are supreme....their quality is great....make stuff from Performance and Nashbar feel like sandpaper and cardboard. I've got a buddy here who had shorts from Nashbar and they were old and falling apart. I talked him into getting new pair from Aerotech and once the came in...he said " I'll never buy clothes from Nashbar/Performance again ". They truly are top-notch....the people have made Olympic Team Uniforms in the past...so they know their stuff!

My waist is bigger than yours, and the 3XL UnderArmor heat gear leggings fit me just fine. Granted, the boys and the bishop don't have a lot of "wiggle room" but that's pretty much to be expected. So far I've only had one 10 mile ride in the cold morning but WOW they are warm. Very happy, even blazing into a headwind above 22mph.

Learn about layers. I got big on that last winter when I was doing a lot of hiking, and am glad I did. I'll be expirementing with it tonight on a ride AND a hike.Do you wear these under your cycling shorts or something different? Just curious on how you wear them with your other cycling gear.

I didn't actually need them tonight, the coldest it got on the way back was about 57, and I was working hard enough that I didn't get cold at all.

However, for my "testing" I've used them as "underwear" and wore a pair of Reebok basketball shorts over them. They are going to take some getting used to, but are very comfortable and WARM.

Also, remember, when it's cold try to find the perfect balance with layers where you are working hard but NOT SWEATING. Sweat is your body cooling itself down, but if you are not sweating your body is burning calories at a supercharged rate. When your body is both working to excercise AND keep you warm, it's a double-whammy. I suspected this after several hikes last winter, and a doctor pretty much echoed it.

Additionally, when it's very cold (under 40), sweat can be downright dangerous. Hypothermia caused by sweat is far too common, you may be nice and warm when moving, but if you have to stop or slow down that sweat is going to be detrimental. A group I hike with and I did several sub-zero hikes, and those were VERY interesting. At those temps, sweat could be deadly.

Walmart carries a nice windproof shell with a wicking inner layer: $25.00 +/- To 3X
Old Navy carries a shell fleece, also windproof, about $20.00 to 2X
Walmart, thinsulate vest: to 3X $25.00
Cheaper, polyester hollowfill vest $7.99...to 3X and it runs big, also at Walmart!

Thermal wicking underlayer clothing also at Walmart.....cheap

Dicks Sporting goods al;so has inexpensive under and outerlayers at low cost in Clyde sizes

also, cycling specific winter wear: www.aerotechdesigns.com and they also have Clyde sized other cycling duds!

What I'd like to know, is where can I get a decent pair of windproof / semi-windproof tights for under $50.00. It's definately not cold enough for polartec stuff right now but my cotton long-johns suck when my legs start swetting.
http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/tights.htm

Are you referring to the Workout Tights?
Are they good as a stanalone item in temps approaching 30F?
That I can't guarantee for you, but I have a set of merino wool legwarmers my wife made for me as well!:D

I know they'll help though with blocking the wind and you don't need that much insulation at temps above 30F

I almost think this should be a topic...but have any other clydes/athenas noticed a lack of need for as much cold-weather gear as would be needed by our lighter counterparts? I know in general I've never needed as much winter clothing as lighter people, but I'm curious if bike-speeds negate all the warmth offered by our increased thermal mass/insulation

so far I've noticed that down to 50˚f, all I need add to my usual lycra shorts/jersey is a windshell (just some cheap ecko thing that i sprayed with a few coats of scotchguard)

Yeah, I don't need as much help keeping warm as thos <5% body fat people :D

I've been wanting to order something from Foxwear (http://www.foxwear.net/index.html) he makes clothing in Idaho and was highly recomended by some in the winter forum last year. He will custom fit for you too.

I almost think this should be a topic...but have any other clydes/athenas noticed a lack of need for as much cold-weather gear as would be needed by our lighter counterparts? I know in general I've never needed as much winter clothing as lighter people, but I'm curious if bike-speeds negate all the warmth offered by our increased thermal mass/insulation

so far I've noticed that down to 50˚f, all I need add to my usual lycra shorts/jersey is a windshell (just some cheap ecko thing that i sprayed with a few coats of scotchguard)
I've ridden in -18F wearing a thinsulate vest, windproof, fleece shell, balaclava, spandex tights, Merino Wool legwarmers and neoprene boots w/ 2 pr socks, Merino wool inner and goretex outer socks. Gloves were thinsulate lined ski gloves. I actually was just right. I did have some frost form at the wicking vents though!

Wow! thanks for all of the info. You have definitely given me some ideas.

Shog

I can definitely agree on the need for less clothing than thinner counterparts. I prefer to ride a little cool anyway, but I certainly don't need as many layers as some and often I leave layers open to moderate temperatures.

My clothing is defintely on the cheap end as I shop online bargains for baselayers and Target or Walmart for other stuff. I have the Walmart shell and it is nice, but I think it needs to be modified with pitzips to really work for biking. May arms get too sweaty unless it is really cold. You can also check out Cabelas and Bass Pro for cold weather gear designed around bigger people.

Hi, new to the board, looking for some advice on some winter clothing choices. I'm on the high end of Clydeness :) 46 inch waist, 54 inch chest and I am having a hard time finding some decent winter gear. Any other Clydes have similar issues ? Specifically I'm looking for something for the legs and some form of a jacket with vents. I've ordered a couple of jackets from Performance and Nashbar but I have had to return them because they don't fit around the waist. Earlier this year I tried the sweatshirt route but that doesn't work well for ventilation. Also anyone know of a HRM with a REALLY large wrist band ?

Shog

I wear my Performance jacket open with a Performance zippered fleece jacket as a liner. Works for me.